- CC Your Sitter: Sitting Off-Site

As a sitter, one of the perks of the job is sometimes getting to travel along with the family on their vacations! I've done it a few times, and have picked up a few tips from experience that just might make your next vacation a little less stressful and a lot safer!

1. As always, make sure everyone is wearing her seat belt (and in an approved and properly installed child safety seat, if required) in cars at all times.

2. If your little one gets motion sickness in a car or on a plane, it's a good idea to bring an extra set of clothes, lots of wipes (useful any time, really) and have a plastic bag at the ready. (Just make sure the bag is kept away from babies at other times!)

3. On a plane, have a bottle ready and a pacifier on hand for when the pressure in the cabin becomes uncomfortable for baby. Sucking will help their ears pop, thus helping the Eustachian tube equalize the pressure on either side of the eardrum. Older kids can enjoy snacks--anything that they can chew and swallow. Yawning also helps.

4. If the kids aren't vomiting, they'll probably be whining. I like to play 'I Spy' with Oliver. Older kids can play the spelling version: "I spy with my little eye something beginning with the letter "G", and younger ones can guess by color: "I spy with my little eye something blue." Cell phones can also provide hours of entertainment, even without apps. Oliver loves flipping my cell open and pushing random numbers.

5. Most importantly, the same rules that apply at home should apply on vacation too. Always make sure kids are supervised near any bodies of water, and keep the lines of communication open between parents and sitter. On a vacation, in a different location, it's easy to lose track of who's in charge of whom. So double check! Is Oliver with his mother in the back yard or should I be watching him? Who's got the baby? Sometimes it's easy to assume that just because there are several adults on the premises that the kids are automatically being supervised, but that's not necessarily so. Decide--verbally--who's in charge, so that there's no confusion. It's not a bad idea to use a clock to designate shifts. Mom and Dad are watching the kids from 2 to 3, and then the sitter takes over until 6, for example. This way, you and your sitter can both relax and enjoy the vacation!

Hope these help!

Zoey, sitter to Nicholas, Oliver, and Vivienne

-Vacation Emergency Prep 101

Before You Leave Home

*Create an emergency information pack:
(use your baby MEDBASICS pack, a bag or envelope but make sure you pack this in your carry on luggage- don't check it)

1. A list of current medications with dosage and an extra copy of prescriptions.

2. A list of allergies.

3. Phone number for family doctor.

4. Insurance company phone number and insurance identification cards. Call your insurance company to verify their policy for emergencies and doctor visits specific to your particular destination.

5. A few basic childproofing items for the hotel/guest room (outlet plugs, cabinet locks, cord rollers, etc).

Travel Day

1. Carry your own emergency care guide on airplane (baby MEDBASICS). Yes, you will have flight attendants but no you won't have 911. Ultimately you are accountable for your baby's safety so be prepared and don't leave it up to someone else.

2. *Carry the emergency information pack you so carefully created before leaving home (see above)

3. If your child has a severe allergy or medical condition place a medic-alert bracelet on your child.

4. Carry a portable first-aid kit and small bottle of alcohol-free hand sanitizer.

5. Pack 1 more diaper than you think you need (after your third flight delay... this, my friend, could be the biggest emergency you encounter).

When You Arrive

1. Make note of emergency numbers (not always 911) as well as your vacation address and the location of the closest hospital. You can ask a family member, friend or concierge for this information.

2. Suitcase dangers- Sometimes the biggest vacation dangers are actually packed in your suitcase. Make sure all medications, vitamins, cigarettes and cosmetics are out of reach from your little one. Ziplock bags are a start but don't qualify as child proofing. Lock medications in the room safe and place all items high on a shelf out of reach.

3. Hotel room/guest room dangers- Get down on your hands and knees and crawl around the room. See what your baby sees and make the adjustments as necessary. Are there dangling cords? Exposed outlets? Matches? Irons?
Check the temperature of the hot water as you don't know the hot water heater setting. By childproofing the room from the start you will make your life a lot easier and your baby's a lot safer. According to the National Safety Council, the number two cause of injury-related death among children is drowning so make sure to take precautions regarding any swimming pool, lake or ocean. Prevention + Attention saves lives.

4. Sun damage- Take extra care to make sure baby is covered up as you most likely be spending more time outside than usual. Apply sunscreen (at least 30 spf) every 2 hours and after swimming. Remember that your baby's skin is thinner than yours and therefore burns more quickly than adult skin.Bring hats and umbrellas for shade. Offer plenty of fluids and watch for signs of heat exhaustion/ heat stroke. Symptoms of heat stroke include a body temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit, red, hot, dry skin (no sweating), quick pulse, confusion, dizziness, headache, nausea and unconsciousness.

5. Resort babysitting- Only hire babysitters from a trusted source. Make sure a background check has been completed and that a copy of his/her current drivers license is on file. Trust your gut. If your sitter arrives and you don't have a good feeling either call for another sitter or cancel your evening. (I personally love sittercity.com) After your sitter arrives, allow time for your baby (and you) to adjust. I recommend leaving at least a 30 minute window. Make sure you provide the sitter with your baby MEDBASICS emergency care guide, a first aid kit with emergency information and your cell phone number.

There you have it, my crash course in vacation emergency preparation. Now, relax and enjoy (as much as you can...)